Antenna Housing and Antennas with Such Antenna Housings

Abstract

Antenna ( 10 ) with several radiating elements ( 14 ). The antenna ( 10 ) comprises a back wall ( 11 ), which is made of composite materials and acts as a carrier for the internal elements a) and b) of the antenna ( 10 ). A radome ( 12 ), which consists of a thin, hard shell, serves as a cover, which can be connected with a connecting area of the back wall ( 11 ), so as to form housing together with the back wall ( 11 ). Additionally a foam core ( 15 ) is provided in the antenna. The following elements of the antenna are hermetically protected in the antenna housing: a) one or more radiating elements ( 14 ), and b) a circuit board ( 13 ) for receiving the radiating elements ( 14 ).

1 . Antenna housing for a group antenna, the antenna housing comprising:
 a wall comprising composite materials and a connecting area, the wall being designed as carrier of antenna elements of an antenna, said wall comprising means for mounting, in order to fasten the antenna housing on a pole or a building;   a radio-frequency- or high-frequency-suitable foam core comprising recesses for receiving at least one radiating element; and   a thin, hard, radio-frequency- or high-frequency-suitable radome, the radome being flexible and connectible like a cover with the connecting area of the wall, such that, the radome and the wall together comprise the antenna housing for the foam core, several radiating elements, and at least one circuit board to drive the radiating elements,   wherein the radome is backed by the foam core and said foam core stabilizes the radome.   
   
   
       2 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1 ,
 means for exercising a contact pressure on one or more of the antenna elements, wherein the means are in a rear area of the antenna housing,   
   
   
       3 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1  wherein the wall further comprises at least one thermoplastically deformed plate. 
   
   
       4 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1 , the wall further comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is deformed by deep-drawing or press forming. 
   
   
       5 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1 , said means for mounting further comprising spline nuts or other fastening means, the spline nuts or other fastening means being mechanically anchored in wall in order to introduce forces of a suspension into the wall. 
   
   
       6 . Antenna housings according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more connecting devices to electrically connect between a control circuit disposed within the antenna housing and an external electronic device.   
   
   
       7 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting area is circumferential and the wall within the connecting area comprises a thermoplastic material to enable a welding, riveting, or gluing of the radome to the wall. 
   
   
       8 . Antenna housing according to  claim 7 , wherein the radome is made of one or more foils in a forming tool. 
   
   
       9 . Antenna housing according to  claim 8 , wherein an external side of the radome is water-repellant and/or ultra-violet-stabilized. 
   
   
       10 . Antenna housing according to  claim 9 , wherein the radome comprises Tedlar® and/or Kynar®. 
   
   
       11 . Antenna housing according to  claim 10 , wherein the radome has a thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm. 
   
   
       12 . Antenna housing according to  claim 1 , the foam core further comprising a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, copolymers of polystyrene, polyether polyurethane, polyester polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylenes, polymethyl metacrylate, and polymethacrylimid. 
   
   
       13 . Antenna housing according to  claim 12 , wherein the foam core is fiber-reinforced. 
   
   
       14 . Antenna housing according to  claim 13 , wherein the foam core is made up of a multilayered structure or a multi-zone structure. 
   
   
       15 . Antenna housing according to  claim 14 , wherein the foam core comprises a pressure resistant surface and/or is flame-retardantly modified. 
   
   
       16 . Group antenna comprising the antenna housing of  claim 1 , the group antenna further comprising:
 several three-dimensional radiating elements designed as dipole antennas, the radiating elements preferably being made as plastic injection molding parts wherein a surface of the radiating elements is metallized.   
   
   
       17 . Group antenna according to  claim 16 , further comprising a circuit board with a control circuit. 
   
   
       18 . Group antenna according to  claim 17 , wherein the control circuit comprises at least one radiating element and connecting area to receive the at least one radiating element and to provide an electrically conducting connection between the control circuit and at least one radiating element. 
   
   
       19 . Group antenna according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a further circuit board to be mechanically and electrically connected with the circuit board using plug connectors, wherein the further circuit board preferably comprises a calibration device or parts of a control circuit.   
   
   
       20 . Group antenna according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a foam bed to insert into the wall and to provide an essentially planar contact surface for the circuit board, wherein the foam bed preferably comprises recesses for cables, the cables to be connected to the circuit board.   
   
   
       21 . Group antenna according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at least one spring element to exercise a contact pressure on one or several of the antenna elements.   
   
   
       22 . Group antenna according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 several three-dimensional radiating elements, the radiating elements to be installed in the antenna housing.   
   
   
       23 . Antenna housing of  claim 2 , wherein the means comprise a spring element. 
   
   
       24 . Antenna housing of  claim 3 , wherein the thermoplastically deformed plate comprises either polypropylene or polyamide. 
   
   
       25 . Antenna housing of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more connecting devices comprise flange connectors. 
   
   
       26 . Antenna housing of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber-reinforced foam core is glass-reinforced.